Reader Tom Lasser shared this link to 100-year-old footage of the Red Baron during World War I. Shot on March 9, 1917, the very rare piece of film gives us an up-close and personal look at the infamous Red Baron, Manfred Von Richthofen.
Some observers note that if you look close, you also will see Hermann Goering in the film, which is about six minutes long.
If the date given (3.9.1917) is read at September 3, 1917 (not March 3) then it all makes sense. MvR was wounded in July 1917 and what we see at 1:46 is him wearing a device to protect his damaged skull. Also, on this date he scored his 61st victory over a Sopwith Pup flown by Lt Algernon Bird, who we also see at 5:10.
Just wondering. At 1:47 of the film MVR removes his officer’s cap to put on his flight helmet. What I thought was the chin strap of the officer’s cap remained in place and the flight helmet went over it. Any idea what it was?
The date given is March 9, 1917. At the time Hermann Goering was not a member of the Flying Circus, the Red Baron’s Jagdgeschwader 1. He was a member of Jagdstaffel 26. If that is Goering, it was footage taken later that was added in. It could be someone who looks like him.
Writing shot down near Bapaume France I mean… Von Richthofen
When I wrote shut down it is not the brit pilot I am talking about but Von Richthofen !
After they inspected the Sopwith Pup the next segment shows, I think, a British aviator. Can anyone confirm that? Interesting video!
Yes, this is the British pilot of the Sopwith Pup. I have a book somewhere that gives the pilot’s name and all the details of the encounter — but i don’t remember which book! If I remember correctly, Manfred and his staffel treated the British pilot to a meal before he departed to a POW camp.
Bob
Excellent, thanks for sharing 🙂
Most of this film was shot in Sept. of 1917 on the occasion of Anthony Fokker’s delivery of the first two Fokker Triplanes to Manfred’s squadrons. The camera and film equipment was owned by Anthony, who was an avid amateur film-maker. Many short segments of this were shot at different times — some even as late as mid-1918. The snippet showing Herman Goering was shot after Manfred’s death in April of ’18, and this snippet also shows Manfred’s younger brother Lothar – who looks at the camera during the shot. Anthony Fokker himself appears in the film segment showing them examining a crashed Sopwith Pup that the Baron had just shot down. Anthony is wearing the aviator’s cap and pointing out the bullet holes.
Wonderful…did you know that he was shot down near Bapaume…One french gun shop in Bapaume shown me part of war plane and if I remember maybe one of his machine gun…It was 45 years ago.The shop is close now but maybe someone can trace the family in the surround cities of Bapaume and get more informations
The name of the shop was ARMURERIE VERDEL and the owner name VERDEL.
At that time he was my shop retailer for Whites first generation of bfo metal detectors .
[email protected]
André ODINOT
Wow!